Bujagali Hydroelectric Plant (Uganda)

In 2016, we continued with the implementation and development of the programmes arising from the social impact assessment at the hydropower generation plant in 2012 operated by our Operación y Mantenimiento Energy subsidiary. The Bujagali Plant Social Impact Project has been in existence for four years since its launch in 2013.

Family sitting on the threshold of a house in Bujagali, Uganda.

Socially committed.

4 years of programmes since its launch in 2013.

The social impact programmes developed over the course of four years are helping to improve the living conditions of the people who live in the places where the company operates. They deal with various issues:

Local procurement percentage:

27.6%

This is intended to encourage purchasing from local suppliers, taking into account sustainability criteria in their selection and evaluation. In 2016, an extensive local supplier base was developed to procure the products and services needed to operate the plant. Currently close to 14% of the providers the plant uses are local and the percentage of local purchasing stands at 27.6%.

Participating companies:

12

We provide training and advisory services (in terms of tax, safety and accounting, among others) to suppliers in the area to adapt to the needs of the company.
The same twelve companies are part of this programme in 2016 as in 2015; they have received some type of help or training to improve their quality, technical level and efficiency. The initiative for improving road safety has continued to develop, with the participation of nearly 5,000 students from neighbouring schools in awareness courses on road safety and first aid.

People benefited:

3,000

It is intended to improve the means available to meet the health needs of the plant's employees and the community, and simultaneously reduce sick days due to health reasons, thereby increasing productivity. The programme is aimed at raising awareness on issues related to health and the prevention and early detection of diseases.
In 2016, two medical camps were held where training and diagnostic activities were carried out, totalling four medical camps directed at the local population of the area. This initiative benefited over 3,000 individuals. The staff also had diverse awareness-oriented activities on subjects related to the health.

Students benefited:

113

In partnership with local education centres, the goal is to provide access to training programmes for local young people in order to improve their qualification and also offer training and skills that suit the needs of our company to people in the plant’s area of influence. In recent years, 113 students have benefited from this programme.

Families benefited:

85

It is a programme to address one of the main demands of the community. Since it is not possible to provide the electricity produced in the area directly to the local inhabitants, agreements with certain organisations have been reached in order to provide sources of renewable energy, such as solar lamps.
By the end of 2016, 85 families had benefited from this programme, of which 40% had already returned the micro credit provided to them for purchasing.